Electroplating apparatus.



F. II. HARIZEIL.

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I8. IgIe.

,Patented Auw. 20, 1918.

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F. H. HARIZEL'L. ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I8 ISIS.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

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F. H. HARYZELL.

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS.

APPUCATION FILED APR.1s.191s.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

llNlfEll STATES PATENT FFIQE,

FOREST H. HARTZELL, F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WAYNE E. DUNSTON, RECEIVER 0F THE CROWN HARDWARE MANUFACTURING CO.

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

Continuation of application Serial No. 68,472, filed December 24, 1915. This application filed April 18, 1916. Serial No. 92,006.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FOREST H. HARTZELL, citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electroplating Apparatus, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to electroplating apparatus and is an amplification and continu ation of the invention disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 68472, iiled December 24th, 1915.

The present invention relates primarily to the construction of the vat or tank and to means for facilitating the-discharge of the contents of the cylinder or drum.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of such devices whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more eiiicient in use, convenient in operation, economical, and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved hoisting apparatus for elevating the drum or cylinder from the tank and lowering it thereinto.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide improved means for recovering from the tank parts or articles accidentally lost from the cylinder or drum and to provide improved means for discharging the contents of the drum or cylinder.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the inventionconsists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode ofoperation or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a I longitudinal sectional veiw of the assembled apparatus with the drum elevated. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the drum or cylinder in its lowered or operative position. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the assembled apparatus. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View showing the apparatus in discharging position. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the receiving tray. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the splash boards.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modification of the hoisting connection.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

In constructing the apparatus there is employed a vat or tank comprising end walls 1 1, side walls 2-2 and a bottom 3 of any suitable material and connected in any suitable or convenient manner.

Located within the vat or tank at the opposite ends thereof and adjacent to the top edge are shelves or ledges 4.--1 extending transversely across the tank and rigidly connected with the side walls and ends thereof. Located within the tank or vat and beneath the shelves or ledges 4 are upright struts orposts 5-5 having in their inner or adj acent faces grooves or recesses 6. The shelves or ledges 4 are notched or recessed at 7 7 to register with the grooves or recesses 6 while rigidly secured to the upper side of said shelves or ledges are standards or uprights 8-8 having in their adjacent faces grooves or recesses 9 registering with the notches 7 and forming continuations of the grooves 6.

The cylinder or drum 10 may be of any suitable or convenient construction. In the` drawing there has been shown a cylinder or drum similarto that disclosed in my copending application before referred to. It is to be understood, however, that this particular form of drum or cylinder is not essential to the present construction. Inasmuch as the cylinder or drum and its driving connection form -no part of the present invention, per se, and the preferred form thereof being shown and described in my copending application before mentioned, to which reference is here made for detailed description, the drum and its driving connection will not be herein described.

The drum .or cylinder 10 is provided with oppositely disposed Jtrunnions 11 which project within the grooves or recesses 6--7-9 in which they slide as the cylinder or drum is raised or lowered. When the cylinder or drum is in its lowermost or operative posi-v tion the trunnions 11 rest in the lower ends of the slots or grooves 6 which are preferably reinforced by bearing blocks 12. In order to a'ord convenient electrical connec- CJe tion with 'the cylinder or drum when n oper ative position, one of the grooves or recesses G is lined with a. strip l of electrical@T conductive material which is extended latera ly bevond the vat as at le for connection with the source oit electrical energy.

Engaged upon each of the trnnnions ll at each end of the cylinder or drum l is a collar or stirrup l to which are attached cables l@ which pass over pulleyY wheels or sheaves ll' located in the top of the standards or uprights 8 and thence pass downward to vvinding drums or Wheels 1S mounted upon transverse shafts i9 and 20. The shaft i9 rpasses entirely through the vat or tank and carries at its :torvvard end a cranlr or handle 2l adjacent to which is inountel a ratchet ivheel engaged hv a retainingpaivl 28 pivoted to the side or Ithe tanlr. T he paivl hy its engagement ivith the ratchet vvheel 22 serves to retain the Winding drums or vvheels 'i8 and thefrehgv the cables l5 in their adjusted positions. llt its rearivaru end the shaft l@ carries a sprocket ivheel connected lijf a chain 25 -with a second sprocket vfheel 26 mounted up n shaiit 2O at the opposite end ot the tan l By this ineans the rotation oi the shalt 1J through the medium oi3 the crank or hanel` 2l vill drive ie shaft 20 and Winding dri .n

or Wheel lS carried therehv in unison vvitn the sha-ft itl and its corresponding Winding drum. ris shoivn in Fig. l, the cables are connected to Corresponding sides of thf Winding drums or vvlieels i8 vvherehv the cables ivill he shortened in unison therehv lifting the drinn or c vlinder from the vat. rlhe drum or cylinder is guided in its rising1 movement hy the engagement oll the trunnions ll in the grooves or recesses la, i' and 9. ills before stated, the cylinder or drinn is held in its elevated position by the engagement of the paivl Q3 ivith the ratchet ivheel Suspended Jfrom the trunnion ll and extending beneath the drum or c vlinder l0 is a. swinging tra-y Q9 having av pertorated or screen bottoni and open at its forward side. The tragy 29 may oe suspended upon the trunnions ll Aindependent or the collars or stirrups l5 lout is preiieraloljf1 attached to ears or lugs 30 extending from such collars or stirrups. rlhe suspended tra)v 29 is raised and lowered in unison with the c vlinder or drum. lt oinetinies happens in plating small articles or parts that such parts ivill be accidentallv lost through the periorations or openings of the cylinder or the closure cif the cvlinder magY he accidentally disengaged thereby discharging the contents into the bottom of the vat. The diiiicultv or recovering such lost parts is overcome lo;T the present construction in which such parts would he deposited in the suspended trag.,Y i319 Jfrom which they are easily and :eadiljvT recovered upon 'the ele-ation o' the cylinder or drum The suspended tray 29 is lso of 'naterial use in discharging the contents of thel cylinder alter tne plating opera- .ion been completed. liter the cylinder heen elevated and the closure removed, 7linder is rotated to cause the contents to he discharged from the c vlinder into the suspended trayY 29 through the pervrated bottom of which the electrolyte or a ing duid adhering to the parts is pernitted to drain hach to the vat. 'lhe disharge ol2 the parts into the suspended tray eiiore being removed from over the vat is material assistance in draining the parts especiallj,r when such parte have cavities or cesses in which the electrolyte may collect. To tnrt-her acilitate the drainage or the plat d parts there is 'provided a receiving 'tr-aj 8l shoivn in detail in ilig. 5 which is adapted to he introduced beneath the suspended tragv 29 and supported upon opposite sides of the vat or tanlr. IThe receiving trav 3l is pre'lierahlj,v in the liorm of a chute contracted its forward side to discharge the articles into a. Waiting container or receptae. The `bottoni of the receiving trav also oriiied oi perforated material or screen, in lic-ated at tirough which anv excess o4x ino? ture may he drained troni the plated arricl hac-lr tothe vat or tanlr. For convenientlj.Y supporting the receiving traiv in position for read;T usei it is normalliv suspended at the side of the tanlr or vat.,r as shown in Fig. upon rollers 33 carried upon loraclrets attached to the side ot the vat. These rollers 3S engage in slots or guides 3l in the sides oi2 the receiving trav. rShe edge of the side Wall or the vat is cnt aivajf as at 35 t 'facilitate the insertion or .ne receiving tray. This recess is norinallj,T closed hy the upper end oi the receiving tra)v 3l when the latter is in its normal or suspended position. lvlovvever, ivhen it is desired to emptyv the cylinder the receiving traf.v 3l is oscillated about the roller 33 upon which it rides easily7 and is pushed across the top of t ie vat unt-il 'the rear end oi the receiving tray rests upon the supporting har 36 or the splash hoard 87 at the opposite side of the vat, as shovvn in Fig. d. rllhe plated parts, having heen discharged from the cylinder into the suspended tray 29 for preliminary draining, are then discharged from the trav into the receiving screen 3l by the oscillation of the trav 29 about the trun nion ll as shovn in l? ig. el. The successive discharges of the .parts from the cylinder l0 to the 'trav @Sand from the trayv 29 to Vthe receiving tray 3l agitates and turns the plated parts thereby entirely,lv emptying any recesses or chambers which maj;v have contained electrolyte. The receiving trav 3l is then emptied drawing it :torvvard and inolinine1 it about the rollers 33, as indicated hy do' ted lines in Fig. il.

Et is obvious that v or the the suspended tray 29 may be omitted and the contents of the cylinder discharged directly therefrom into the receiving tray 31, receiving tray 31 may be dispensed with and the parts discharged from the suspended tray 29 onto a traveling belt or suitable chute or container by which they are conveyed away from the vat. At each side of the tank or vat are located longitudinally disposed bars or rails 36 which rest loosely upon the ledges or shelves site ends of the vat. Attached to the bars or rails 36 and supported thereby in pendent position are splash boards 37 extending downward substantially to the fluid level of the tank. These splash boards and their supporting rails are readily removable. The splash boards extending in parallel relation with the sides of the tank form at each side of the drum space a compartment 38 through which extend in longitudinal directions electrical conductors 39. Suspended upon these conductors 39 are the anodes 40. The splash boards protect the electrical connections of.

the anodes fromdeposit and corrosion. In order that the splash boards 37 may be retained in position there are provided in the shelves or ledges 4 4 notches 41 in which the splash boards engage.

IVithout the use of the splash board 37 more or less plating Huid is dripped or splashed upon the electrical conductors 39 during the operations of raising the drum from the vat and returning it thereto. The evaporation of the electrolyte which may find lodgment upon the electrical conductor causes the conductor to become incrusted with a deposit of chemicals or salt and also causes the conductor to become corroded.

Such deposit and corrosion prevents perfectv electrical Contact between the electrode connection and the conductor and so interferes with the plating current and reduces the efficiency of the apparatus. By the use of the splash board the electrical conductors are kept clean and in perfect working order, thereby insuring high eiiiciency. In Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a modiication'of the hoisting connections to the drum in which the trunnions 11 of the drum are journalcd in bearing blocks 42 slidingly mounted in the grooves or recesses of the uprights 5 and standards 8. The hoisting cables 16 are connected directly to the bearing blocks 42. The pulleys or sheaves 17 at the upper ends of the standards 8 are olfset outward as at 43 whereby the downlead of the cab-le will be suiiicient within the recess or channel of the upright and standard. This construction will provide sufficient clearance to prevent interference between the cable and drum in the event that the cable is unduly slackened.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device 4-1 at the oppo-v of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable but Which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detail construction or arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to certain structural features, it is to be understood that the means and construction herein described comprise but one mode of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed broadly in any of its possible forms or modifications Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a vat having grooved recesses or channels in its inner opposite sides, standards projecting above the top edge of the vat having grooved recesses on their adjacent sides registering with and forming continuations of the grooved `recesses or channels of the vat, a revoluble drum, trunnions projecting from said drum and engaging in said grooved recesses of the standards, and hoisting apparatus adapted to reciprocate the drum vertically Within the limits of the combined grooved recesses.

2. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a vat, a revoluble drum therein, standards projecting above the level of the tank, sliding connections between the druml and standards, separate sheaves carried by the standards, cables passing over the sheaves and attached to the drum and Winding means for said cables.

3. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a vat, a revoluble drum therein, hoisting cables attached to the drum, a separate 'winding drum .for each cable, a shaft for eachhwinding drum, an intermediate driving connection between said shafts for operating said shafts in unison, means for actuating the shafts and means for retaining the shafts in adjusted position.

4:. In an electroplating apparatus, a vat, a revoluble drum therein, hoisting cables attached to the drum, a separate Winding reel for each cable, and intermediate driving mechanism between the reels for operating the reels in unison, means for rotating the reels and retaining means for the reels in operated positions.

5. In an electroplating apparatus, a vat, a revoluble drum therein, a receiver suspended beneath the drum, and means for simultaneously lifting the drum and receiver from the'vat.

6. In an electroplating apparatus, a vat,

in unison.

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